Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-02-19
UNDER THE WAVES.
JOHN l.. WAGNER MEETS A SAD FATE,
YESTERDAY.
BE is Drowned in the Ohio River Along With a
Team Of HOrs-Aany Willing hands
In Vain Try TO Save Him.

of 4 human life and q valuable team OF horses
1t seems TO be the custom Of a great many
drivers of delivery wagons to run their
horses into the river every evening to
wash them and the wagons clean OF the
mud that has adhered during the day, and
while the practice is decidedly wrong and
injurious to horse flesh. many drivers con-
tinue to do it against the wishes of their
employers, in many instances risklng
their own lives by so doing. Such was b
case yesterday.
About the time mentioned John L. Wag-
ner, driver of p. Welty < Co.'S delivery
truck, to which was attached a fine pair OF
horses, drove down the wharf to the
waters edge at a point Just below the foot
of Twelfth street, with the intention OF
washing the horses and wagon by driving
through the water. The horses were very
spirited animals and did not appear to rel
ism being driven into the cold water, and
only entered upon being urged. When the
water splashed upon them they became a
little unruly and had gotten out quite a
distance before Wagner could get their
heads turned TO goin closer 10 the shore. As
they turned the wagon was thrown INTO
d. eper water and was lifted from the
ground. The current is very swift at that
mint and ON account of the rough wealth
en-, was doubly so yesterday, and Its tuh
force striking the wagon caused the horses
to lose their fOOthOld and IN an instant
wagon, horses and driver were swinging
ont into the river.
Several persons who saw the mlshap
shouted 10 Wagner to jump and save him.
self hut the water was above his waist
before he attempted TO do so, and then he
WAS 80 chilled and frightened that the
effort was fruitless. Wagner seemed 10
have his mind centeIed ON saving the
horses and forgot himself, or else he I'M
apined the Wagon would float and did not
appreciate his danger.
As he Jumped the wagon was Just NJ the
upper end of the C.. l.. Il W. a boat
aud the swift current carried him on the
outside. while the horses and truck were
drawn under the hull Of the boat and dis
appeared beneath the water. Quite q
number of people were on the scene by
this time and an employe of the wharlbOat
who had witnessed the mishap, held out n
bfOOm handle to Wagner as he located by
the boat. The unfortunate man seized the
handle, but it appears that he wore a heavy
mir of buckskin gloves which had become
soaked with water, making them very
slippery, so when he caught the stick 1t slip
Eedright through his hand. Arope waspre-
yiously thrown right into his hands by
Harry Hunter, but he could not hold 1t, as
the current was sweeping HIM 80 rapidly
a,ong. All hope seemed 10 be past as
Wagner appeared To have lost all power,
probably being seized by cramps. As his
body reached the lower end Of the boat a
man ran out from the shore bearing a
small plank in his hands, which he heaved
over TO Wagner. The man caught 1t and
held on rs best he could, but the plank
MAS not heavy enough to float him
and he was too weak TO make an
attempt to gain the shore. The TACT
OF the matter is, no doubt, that the
poor man was so bewildered at the sudden
catastrophe and benumbed by the cold that
he almost entirely lost his reason ana
strength, for several opportunities We're
afforded him OF being saved, all OF when
he seemed unable 10 grasp.
At this time the excitement along the
y hart WAS intense and agitated men and
bows were running hither and thither,
hardly knowing what they did, all appar-
emily being fascinated by the dark object
in the river which WIS a human beng
nearing death at % swift and terrible rate.
There rppeared to be no skitls in the WEN
ity. and no one seemed tn think Of Jump
inI in the cold and uninviting water.
Wagner had now tloated tot point about
?, set below the EharfDoat, when a man
ta.-iug down the wharf from the d.
rsat;on"C .'hh street, with ~ GYercoat
IN one hand. He wG-a taI', well INliL
man, and when he reached "saE
edge he threw down the coat, pulle,.
his undercOat and shoes and Sprang out
irto the water towards Wagner. The eX-
element became deeper ut this
juucture, and every Spectator held
his breath, seeming to fear that the force
Of one e%XhalatiOn would sink the u al
most drowned man, whose eyes had III
ready become set in his head while death
was stamped on his features. lie held to
the plank, however, and the man who had
Jumped in to save him, with a few sweep
strokes, sOon reached the spot. This
was about opposite the lower end OF the
''Pewiky' freight depot. Every eye was
riveted to the spot, and ~ the brave man
out to seize the plank, every hand
ip~vOluntarilv stretched in the same direc-
ton. The hand touched II end OF the
and the other was about To seize
the drowning man, when suddenly
the head disappeared under the water like
4 piece of lead and the plank WAS all that
the man held. lie waited not hut dove
down into the muddy depths IN
the same spot where Wagner mad
disappeared, but every heart fell rs he
10 the surface empty handed. He
too was becoming chilled now and to save
himself struck out for shore. There was
no one to help him put and he was COM
PEELED TO climb up the thirty foot high
by obtaining holds between
The boards. Then some cOwardly wretch
who probably felt ashamed Of his own lack
Of courage, reported it that this brave man
had pulled the plank from Wagner's hand,
otherwise he would have been saved. A
hundred men might be drowned under
more favorable circumstances il such
thankless wretches rs this were all that
20 to his rescue.
The name of the man vino risked his
own life to save that of n tellowman Is
Henry Becker, who resides with his
on Eleventh street. Mr.. Will
Miller, of the 'Pewiky" freight Of
flee also ran for the river bank and had
taken of his shoes with the intention OF
in and attempting to save the
drowning man, when he saw Becker reach
hun and his disappearance. Several
gentlemen from the freight office
also threw out plank to Wagner, but he
was too far gone TO even see, let alone
it. 1t really seemed that fate was
against the man and nothing could save
him.
Wagner was formerly employed at the
Wheeling Bakery where he worked at his
trade of baker. Failing in health he Sc
cured the situation OF driver for Welty 4
Co, about four months since. He was a
of C. +. Wagner, of the East Side, and